The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-15

beginning OF last session, there is not
much danger of the existing surplus
being largely increased by the revenues
OF the coming year. The appropria.
tons thus far proposed in Congress
make total OF 100000, 900 increase
over those OF last year. The dependent
pension bill was one of the most USE
lessly extravsgant bills ever pas ed
by any legislative body, There new r
was more ca eless, reckless, indiffer-
ent Congress. The tendency is toward
unlimited extravaganza. 10 the House
the Democrats do not appssr to recog-
Mia the fact that the Republican man
ayers are doing all in their power to
make large appropriations. The Dam
ocIatic lesdsrs in the House do not ap-
pear to think there is any political To-
ture and that it will be impossible for
them to 60 successfully Into a can
vass next year with the record of hav-
ing failed to reduce taxation and the
inexcusable record of increased ex-
penditures.
On Monday afternoon the Senate
passed, almost without debate, two
bills appropristiug $2l,0O0,000 for
coast defenses and to encourage the
manufacture OF steel for modern army
and navy ordnance, armor and other
military purposes, and to provide
heavy ordnance adapted to modern
warfare. Fourteen million dollars
are appropriated for contracts
with responsible steel msnufac-
turers for a supply of rough bored,
rough turaed and tempered steel in
forms suited for heavy ordnance, and
steel finished for armor, shsfting aud
other naval purposes. 1t provides
that no money shall be expended ex-
cept for steel accepted and delivfr red.
The smallest ca'iber pieces OF ordnance
are to be delivered within eighteen
months and the largest within three
years. The forging shall be manu-
featured in the United States. 0ne
million dollars is appropriated for the
erect on of naval gun factory at the
WsshinRt IN navy yard. An amend
ment by Mr.. ID >lph was also accepted,
appropriatipg $5,000,O00 for the con-
struction Of fortific ,tions. This sum
was further increased 81 900, 900 for the
building OF gun factory at West
Troy, N. Y, at the Wstervliet Arsenal,
80 that alto 1ether the appropriations
on that one afternoon for the manu-
facture of guns and the construction
Of notifications aggregates $2l, 000, 0C0.
These bills have both bsen referred to
tba M;l;toNu Nopo MI ftaa of tho uouua
Members of that committee are great
ly interested in the two measures and
they expect to make a favorable re-
port upon each bill in time to secure
action 10y the House. They express
confidence that the House will
promptly pass the bills and thus
make q good beginning in the work of
making big guns and building modern
coast defenses. Their confidence is,
perhaps, too great, for among some OF
the Democrats there is disposition TO
regard the generosity OF the Senate as
not inspired go much by patriotism as
by determination to put through
every expense bill that can be passed.
Down brakesl" is likely to be the
cry among the leaders who have no.
ticed the determination to thrust the
arrears of pensions bill, the refund OF
the direct taxes, the educational bill,
postal subsidies, prison pensions, and
a few other surplus consuming meas
ures upon the House. The tariff re-
form men suspect that their main
purpose is not 10 strengthen the coun-
try's defenses, but to weaken the
cause of tariff reform and load the
Democratic party with odium as the
party of extravaganza.
While the Senate was passing the
$2l 100000 bills on Monday, the
House was invited by Mr.. Morrow, of
California, to expend ST. 100000 to in
crease the naval establishments and
to protect The harbors OF New York
and San Francisco. He introduced a
bill for the construction Of two steel
rams after the model of the marine
ram recommended by Rear Admiral
Ammen, to have at least a speed OF
fiftsen knots an hour.
OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS PRO.
POSED
One large item of expense this ses-
sion has been in the multitude OF
public buildings authorized and ap.
proprated for in different cities of the
Union. There have been forty or
fifty bills of this nature passed; a
larger number than at any previous
session. A halt has been called here,
however, and the day after the bill
for the public building at Chattanooga
was passed the Speaker said that no
more would be allowed this session.
The Chattanooga building accordingly
got through merely by the skin of its
teeth.
THE NAVY AND A VIGOROUS FOREIGN
POLICY.
A great stimulus has been given to
plans for naval vessels and for coast
defense by the friction between this
country and Canada. Washington
swarms with inventors who have
plans for the most complicated engines
Of destruction. Congress will I'M
doubtedly increase the appropriations
made for experiments in testing new
engines of warfare and for the con-
struction Of newIcruisers. 1t is not a
O uestion as much OF buliness as OF
sentiment Throughout Congress
there is a very cordial dislike for Eng
land and her ways. The younger and
more adventurous element in Con-
yress is enthusiastic in favoring a Wig
Orous foreign policy. Nevertheless
the retaliation bill, which it is ex.
pected the House Committee on For
sign Affairs will report next week,
will be Of a much milder type than
would have been expected from the
tone Of conversation heard here last
week. 1t will be similar to the one
by Mr.. Belmont, modified |
somewhat by certain provisions con-
aimed in the draft submitted by Sec
rotary Manning and other details sug-
yested by the State Department. The
Senate bill was not acceptable to the
because OF its ambiguity
and its failure to include specifically
railroads and all means OF communi-
cation within the prohibition.
nuu ryrupow A mn CouurooYoA